What was the first song to feature a Roland TR-808?
It is easy to think of electronic music as a fairly modern phenomenon, particularly given its all-encompassing presence throughout the modern musical landscape. In actuality, the origins of electronic music date back as early as the 19th century, with the invention of the Telharmonium. Since then, electronic music has gone through a number of distinct periods and cultural changes. Perhaps the most pivotal moment in the history of the style, however, came in 1980, with the emergence of the Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer.
An early drum machine that allowed artists to program their own rhythms, the 808—as it affectionately became known—completely revolutionised the world of electronic music. Following its introduction in 1980, the drum machine became an essential part of electronic dance music, hip-hop, and pop music in particular. In fact, the technology became so popular and important within dance music that an early acid house outfit in Manchester opted to call themselves 808 State, eventually bringing its distinctive sound to the musical mainstream.
The 808 is, without a doubt, the definitive drum machine, but it was far from being the first. Drum machines date back, in one form or another, to the 1930s, when Léon Theremin and Henry Cowell set about developing the Rhythmicon. In the decades that followed, technology would advance at a rapid rate, ushering in creations like the Wurlitzer Side Man or the Donca-Matic DA-20. One of the first programmable drum machines emerged in the early 1970s when Italian company Eko released the ComputeRhythm, but these machines paled in comparison to the revolutionary power of the 808 some years later.
Electronic music had already made some significant strides during the 1970s, largely thanks to the efforts of groups like Kraftwerk, Telex, and Afrobeat pioneer William Onyeabor—although he would not receive credit for his efforts until decades later. The steady rise of electronic music led the folks at Roland to recognise a need for a drum machine that was highly customisable and, crucially, accessible to those without a degree in electronics.
Initially, the launch of the Roland TR-808 was a failure, at least by commercial standards. Its hefty price tag of $1,195 made it a difficult expense for budding young artists to justify, and its simulated drumkit sounds paled in comparison to other drum machines on the market. After only three years in production, Roland stopped making the 808, but that didn’t stop it from becoming a dance music sensation.
The 808 was cemented in the pages of music history years after its initial release when it found favour with ravers and hip-hop heads, but its presence in popular music long predates ‘Pacific State’. Shortly after its release, the machine was utilised by soul icon Marvin Gaye for his sensual classic ‘Sexual Healing’, released in 1982. This marked the first time that an 808 played a role in generating a hit song, with Gaye’s work
So, what was the first song to feature a Roland 808?
Prior to the release of Gaye’s intercourse anthem, Roland loaned out an 808 to Tokyo electronic experimentalists Yellow Magic Orchestra, and the drum machine featured heavily on their 1981 record BGM. The band also used the machine during their live performances, most notably for the track ‘1000 Knives’, which made it the first song to feature an 808, both in the realm of live and recorded music.
There are multiple other early instances of the 808 in music, including the cult track ‘Planet Rock’ by Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force. These songs, while rarely hitting the mainstream music world, were essential in demonstrating the power of the 808 to generate original and previously unheard sounds. That inherent spirit would go on to see the drum machine become an essential aspect of late 1980s hip-hop and dance music.
